Heater unit for toasters



Jan. 14, 1947. R. E BARCLAY 2,414,082

HEATER UNIT FOR TOASTERS Filed Jan. 6, 19215 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 14, 1947. v R E B'ARCLAY 2,414,082

HEATER UNIT FOR TOASTERS Filed Jan. 6, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 u Aw.

lPatented Ilan. 14, 1947 HEATER UNIT FOR TGASTERS Robert E. Barclay, Chicago, Ill., assigner to" Federal Electric Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of New York Application .ianuary 6, 1945, Serial No. 571,609

1 Claim.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 552,971 filed September 7, 194A for improvements in toasters. This invention is more particularly concerned with improvements in heater units for toasters and contemplates the provision of a heater unit embodying plates provided with bright reflecting faces for directing heat from electrical resistance units toward bread to be toasted, and in which the heating elements are mounted on sheets of mica disposed in spaced parallel relation to their respective reecting faces to provide air spaces therebetween.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a heater unit in which a U-shaped plate is arranged to straddle a toast carrier and is formed with opposing chromium plated heat refleeting faces.

This invention also contemplates the provision of means for detachabl connecting sheets of mica in spaced relation to their respective heat refleeting faces provided on the U-shaped plate.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specication and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View partly in section showing a toaster embodying features of this invention.

Fig, 2 is a detailed plan View showing a heater unit embodying features of this invention,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View, partly in section, showing the heater unit.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the toaster is shown as comprising a housing 6 adapted to receive one or more toast carriers 'I which are provided with downwardly extending ears 8 for engagement on a shaft 9. The ears 8 are secured against movement relative to the shaft 9 by any suitable means, and the shaft is journaled in suitable bearings provided in a pair of spaced supporting plates I I.

.An operating handle I2 is journaled on a shaft i3 secured to the supporting plates I l, and has its free end operatively connected to the carrier shaft 9 by means of a connecting link I4 and a lever l5. l

rThe lever l5 is secured against movement relative to the shaft 9.

Th housing t is provided with one or more elongated openings I through which slices of bread ll may be inserted for positioning on their respective toast carriers l. Each toast carrier is movable from its loading position, shown in Fig. l, to a toasting position by moving the outer end of its respective handle I2 downwardly until a, hook member I8 becomes engaged under a suitable latch, not shown. Upon release of the latch, the toast carrier is adapted to pivot from its loading position to its toasting position by gravity due to the action of a counterweight it mounted upon the forward end of the carrier.

Each carrier 'i is provided with a heating unit which is generally indicated at El, and adapted to be supported in proper position within the housing 6 by means of suitable supporting brackets 22 which are welded or otherwise secured to opposite sides of the heating unit. As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, each heating unit comprises a U- shaped plate provided with side walls Z3 and 2li and a connecting end wall 26. The opposing faces 2 and 28 of the sides 23 and 24, respectively, are provided with bright, highly polished heat reflecting surfaces. The opposing faces 21 and 28 are preferably chromium plated in order to provide the desired heat reflecting characteristics and to insure durability and long service life. However, it is contemplated that reflecting surfaces may be manufactured by means other than those described. Inwardly disposed flanges 29 are provided along the top and bottom edges of the sides 23 and 24 and are preferably formed with guide grooves 3| to receive a pair of mica sheets 32 and 33. The mica sheets are disposed in spaced relation to their respective reflecting faces 21 and 2B to provide air spaces 35i therebetween. The guide grooves 3| are disposed in parallel alignment in order that substantially square or rectangular sheets of mica may be mounted therein by moving same longitudinally through the slots.

Electrical resistance elements 36 are mounted on the face of each sheet of mica 32 and 33, and are preferably formed by spirally winding resistance wire 3'I around a rectangular sheet o1 mica 38. The resistance elements 36 may be secured to the mica sheets 32 and 33 by any suitable means. If desired, several resistance elements 36 may be provided on the face of each sheet of mica and wired in series for electrical connection with suitable terminals 3S.

By mounting the resistance elements upon sheets of mica and in spaced relation to their respective heat reflecting surfaces 21 and 23, it has been found that the heating unit provides a greater efficiency than other forms of heating units heretofore employed in toasters. In the use of a heating unit of the type shown and described in toasters, it has also been found that the housing remains relatively cool and may be constructed without the use of the usual interior insulation due to the fact that the heat from heating elements 35 is adequately confined between the Sides 23 and 24 of the U-shaped plate.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed i invention.

I claim as my invention:

In a heater unit for a toaster having a toast carrier, a pair of reflector plates arranged in spaced parallel alignment on opposite sides of said toast carrier, a connecting wall for said reector plates, a sheet of mica disposed in spaced parallel alignment With the inner face of each reector plate to provide an air space therebetween, means defining parallel grooves on opposite edges of said reector plates for detachable engagement with said mica sheets, and electrical resistance units, mounted on the side of the mica sheets adjacent the toast carrier.

ROBERT E. BARCLAY. 

